KEY FINDINGS

1. The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing
severe bleaching in 2017, following the worst
bleaching event on record in 2016.

Last year the Great Barrier Reef experienced its
worst bleaching event ever. The pristine reefs in
the north (Port Douglas to Papua New Guinea)
were the most badly affected, with mortality of
two-thirds of coral in this region.

While the El Niño has waned, bleaching on
the Great Barrier Reef has continued, fueled by
climate change.

Severe bleaching has already been observed
in offshore reefs from north of Ingham to near
Cairns. In 2017 more bleaching is being observed
in the central section of the GBR, which was
spared last year.

Reefs bleached in both 2016 and 2017 have had no
opportunity to recover and so high mortality rates
can be expected.

3. Coral reefs are a huge economic asset,
providing jobs and incomes to local
communities.

The World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is a
national economic asset worth $7 billion annually,
supporting the livelihoods of 69,000 Australians
employed in sectors such as tourism.

If severe bleaching continues, regions adjacent
to the Great Barrier Reef risk losing more than 1
million visitors annually - equivalent to at least $1
billion in tourism spending and 10,000 jobs.

Over the next two to three decades, bleaching
events are likely to become even more frequent
and severe in Australia, with catastrophic impacts
on reef health and the economy.

4. We must rapidly reduce greenhouse
gas emissions now to protect our reefs.

While carbon emissions flat-lined last year in
China and declined in the United States and
elsewhere, Australia’s net emissions continue to
rise, increasing by 0.8% in 2016.

Over the next two to three decades, bleaching
events are likely to become even more frequent
and severe in Australia, with catastrophic impacts
on reef health and the economy.

In the long term, protecting our coral reefs requires
the rapid phasing out of fossil fuels globally, and
the uptake of cheap, clean and efficient renewable
energy and energy storage technologies. Australia
must play its part.

The commissioning of new coal mines such as
that planned for the Galilee Basin, and the pursuit
of polluting and expensive “clean coal” projects
and new gas plants, is completely at odds with
protecting the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs
globally

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